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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fald, Fauld, v.¹ Also: falde, fawld. [Northern ME. fald (midland and southern folde), ONhb. -falda, WS. fealdan.]

1. tr. a. To bend over; to lay in folds. a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 955.
The Magdelane … Hyr armys in hyre breste cane fald a1500 Seven S. 2586.
Ȝe sal me the basyng hald And my moder the towall fald 1505 Treas. Acc. III. 162.
To four men … to fald and lay up the arres werk 1533 Bell. Livy I. 61/10.
The burreo come with the corde, and faldit the samyn about his handis 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 123.
Two men … wer slaine be the peices that lay on Davidis touer heid, heaving leid faldit about a piece of iron for a bullet 1589–90 Waus Corr. II. 444.
Than the lard faldit up they tua lettres 1650 Stirling Ant. IV. 159.
The said Barbara … being interrogate if Geills Finnies tongue was faldit in her mouth when she wes dumb, answerit, ȝe may fald ȝour tongue if ȝe lyk it

b. To fald (his, etc.) fete, to bend the knees, to kneel. 1536 Lynd. Answ. Flyting 18.
Bot I man do as dog dois in his den, Fald baith my feit, or fle fast frome ȝour flyting a1605 Montg. Misc. P. li. 35.
Quhen Jupiter the schap of bull did tak, Befoir Europe quhen he his feit did fauld 1596 Melvill 380.
We sall … sitt dow[n], fauld our feit, and tholl an assyse of anie honest men

c. To embrace (a person). a1500 Henr. Bludy Serk 5.
He had a dochter fair to fald a1500 Seven S. 1137.
Mycht nocht serf thé … My ȝoung body to fald & fang?

d. To wrap, enfold. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 65/17.
Thai lay of the voulfis schape, and faldis thame about … with certane fleisis of the wowl 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I. 172.
Fauldit up in his cloik

2. intr. a. Of persons, the heart, etc.: To give way, to fail or succumb; to lose courage. c1420 Wynt. viii. 4990.
Bot fortowne, thowcht scho fald fekilly, Will noucht at anis myscheffis fall 1456 Hay II. 58/8.
Fortitude, that is stifnes in hert aganis vice, that will nocht falde no mare na rank stele c1420 Ratis R. 277.
Faintly luk nocht thow fauld a1500 Henr. III. 117/60.
The feviris fell and eild sall gar thé fald a1500 Doug. K. Hart. 109.
The grundin dairtis … Wald mak ane hart of flint to fald and fle 1533 Boece iv. iv. 5476.
He belevit the curage of the remanent suld abas and fald a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 103.
Thair hardie hartis … For fortounis feid on force wald newir fald a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1255.
For he esteemt his faes defate, Quhen anes he fand them fald

b. To give in, to yield (to one). a1400 Leg. S. xix. 444.
He thocht thane that he wald Til his wil ger hyme fald 1535 Stewart 46638.
He chesit erar out of Scotland to ga, Or he vald fald or faill in ony thing a1578 Pitsc. I. 6/19.
Fals tratouris … That to thair princes wald nevir obey nor fauld a1585 Polwart Flyting 795 (T).
Scaid scald, our bald, soone fauld, or I melt thé a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 75.
Thay gave him sum articlis … , that war sa strict that nather the a partie wald fawld to the other 1603 Philotus ii.
Quhen I ȝour bewtie do behald I man vnto ȝour fairnes fald 1625 Garden Kings 14.
Thou forced for to fald Such as deboird from thy obedience darre

c. To bend, become bent; to bow down. 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 153 b.
Galdus … ordorit his batall in ane lang array … tending thai suld fald and lukkin about the Romanis 1535 Stewart 11940.
Thair waponis waldin war nocht worth ane myt, … At euerilk straik tha faldit to thair hand 1538 Lynd. Justing 23.
His speir did fald amang his horssis feit 1587-99 Hume iv. 15.
My march it melts, my febill limbs thay fauld 1603 Philotus cxli.
I will vnto my father ga, Befoir his feit to fald